CNN
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A retired college dean was discovered shot within the head on a mountaineering path close to the Vermont State College Castleton Campus the place she’d labored, and authorities are trying to find whoever killed the beloved educator.
Honoree Fleming, a retired dean of schooling on the college and spouse of Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Ron Powers, is believed to have entered the path close to campus round 4 p.m. Thursday and was discovered useless lower than an hour later, Vermont State Police mentioned.
A medical expert decided Fleming, 77, was killed by the gunshot wound, police mentioned.
As of Saturday, no suspect had been arrested.
“The suspect is taken into account armed and harmful,” Vermont State Police mentioned. “The general public is urged to stay vigilant and alert for suspicious particular person(s) and actions and to report something suspicious to the Vermont State Police at 802-773-9101. Suggestions additionally could also be submitted anonymously on-line.”
Police are searching for a “particular person of curiosity” described as a male with brief pink hair, about 5 ft, 10 inches tall. He was final seen carrying a darkish grey T-shirt and carrying a black backpack.
Investigators are asking native companies and members of the general public to overview their surveillance footage for doable data.
The college’s Castleton Campus is open Monday to supply “a supportive atmosphere for many who want to come collectively,” however college students shall be excused from class. Common class schedules will resume Tuesday.
“Our hearts exit to the members of our group who taught with Honoree and had her as a beloved instructor throughout their time at Castleton,” the varsity mentioned in an announcement posted on Fb.
“Scores of scholars benefited from Dr. Fleming’s teachings and analysis. Earlier than she joined Castleton, she was additionally a school member at Trinity School, Middlebury School, and the Icahn Faculty of Drugs at Mount Sinai. Honoree lived in Castleton along with her husband, Ron Powers, a Pulitzer Prize-winning and New York Instances bestselling writer,” the varsity mentioned.
Powers was co-author of the e book “Flags of Our Fathers,” a New York Instances finest vendor in regards to the males concerned within the well-known flag-raising in the course of the 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima. He additionally gained a Pulitzer Prize in 1973.
“Our deepest sympathies go to her husband, Ron, household, and mates. That is an unbelievable tragedy for the Castleton campus and for all of Vermont State College,” the varsity mentioned. “Honoree shall be deeply missed.”